

Numerical Modeling of Mechanical Damage in Short Fiber Reinforced Thermoplastic Composites
Abstract
The mechanical damage of carbon fiber reinforced thermoplastic (CFRTP) composite material is simulated using a periodic-cell simulation which can address the effect of composite microstructure, matrix viscoplasticity, and microscopic damage (fiber break and matrix crack). Especially, the effect of fiber length on the mechanical damage of composites is studied. When the fiber length is varied, the damage mode is divided into two modes: fiber-breaking mode and matrix cracking mode. This damage mode transition is consistent with the brittle-ductile transition in behavior of composite failure.
Keywords
a periodic-cell simulation, CFRTP, brittle-ductile transitionText